Does living for Christ need a theology?

Romans 5:12
 
I need to warn you that if you are not especially interested in theology as a discipline you may not want to spend time on what follows. I have been blogging now for several years, paying attention to the helpful insights of prominent personalities in scripture such as Jesus, Peter, John, James, Solomon, and Paul (in Philippians). More recently I have turned to Paul’s great foundational book of Romans and found in the early chapters more emphasis on the theological structure of our faith than what might be called practical insights for living. So I had to make a decision; after a few posts on chapters 6-11 we will spend the normal amount of time on chapters 12 and following for the rich practical instruction of the great theologian. So for now, look with me at Romans 5:12, one of the theme verses in Paul’s presentation.
         “Sin entered the world through one man and brought death with the result that sin and death spread through the human race because everyone has sinned.”
 
         The theological point for discussion is why are you and I sinners – is it because Adam sinned or because we have sinned? One interpretation is that Paul is using the Old Testament perspective of corporate personality in which we are “in Adam” (our human representative) in the same way that we are “in Christ” (our spiritual representative). That means Adam’s sin is our sin. A second way to look at it is that Adam’s sin determined human nature with its propensity to sin but sin has spread to all because all have in fact sinned. And there is a third explanation (which I am inclined to follow) and that is that Adam’s sin is the primary cause of our sinful nature, but the result is – given that propensity – that all who have entered the human race have sinned of their own accord.
         Each position has its arguments pro and con, but we will not enter that arena. Rather, let’s think for the moment on the results of sin: ruined lives, broken homes, hopelessness, disappointment, war, confusion, fear, discouragement, anxiety, shame, lack of power, and conflict of every sort. Now let’s list all the advantages of sin: . . . . . . Hmmmmm. I guess you could list “fleeting pleasure,” but at what a cost. The simple truth is that God made us for an eternal relationship with him of sheer delight. Sin of every sort is determined to keep us from it. Satan with his deceptive enticements is our enemy, wounded on Calvary but still doing his evil best to spoil what God has planned for those who love him. I guess the moral is – move closer into the shelter of His loving arms with a Spirit inspired desire to stay clear of sin of any sort until we arrive home to be with Him.